Adaptive e - Learning Environment Systems and Technologies

This article discusses the rapidly developments of adaptive e-learning environments. Adaptive learning is an important research topic in the field of web-based systems because there are no fixed learning materials, strategies and paths which are appropriate for all learners. However, most studies in this field have only focused on learning styles and habits of learners. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore adaptation in the field of e-learning systems. The term adaptive e-learning refers to the ability of a system of e-learning to provide courses and learning objects calibrated on the instructional needs of the learner. The underlying assumption is that teaching content adapted for some users may not be appropriate for the others. The adaptive elearning systems employ utilize models of the user. A user model is an internal representation of the user's properties. Adaptive learning dynamically adjusts the level or types of instruction based on individual student abilities or preferences, and helps personalize instruction to improve or accelerate a student’s performance. Adaptive elearning systems are generally built on three core elements: a content model, a learner model, and an instructional model. A content model refers to the way the specific topic, or content domain, is structured, with thoroughly detailed learning outcomes and a definition of tasks that need to be learned. Adaptive systems make statistical inferences about the student’s knowledge based on their performance; they must “model” the learner. Learner models continue to become more complex, considering additional variables such as the student’s motivational state and emotional response. The instructional model determines how a system selects specific content for a specific student at a specific time. This paper presents history of adaptive instructional systems, concepts and features of adaptive e-learning, approaches of adaptive e-learning, parameters of abilities and aptitudes variables in e-learning adaptive systems, types of adaptive educational systems and examples of e-learning adaptive systems.